Antiaircraft machine gun



flan. 23, 1923. 1,443,249.

P. A. DUPCZA. ANTIAIRCRAFT MACHINE GUN.

FILED DEC. 30. I921. 15 SHEETS-SHEET1.

00 72 m0 M? mo P A Dian/70 IN V EN TOR.

TTORNE'I'.

P. A. DUPCZA. ANTIAIRCRA ET MACHINE GUN.

Jan. 23,1923.

15 SHEETS-SHEET};

FILED DEC- 30| I921.

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

. DUPCZA- ANTIAIRCRAFT MACHINE GUN.

Jan. 23, 1923.

I5 SHEETSSHEET 4.

FILED DEC. 30,1921.

h INVENTOR. P,- A, fizzpaz a.

A TTORNE Y.

Jan. 23,1923." 1,443,249. P. A. DUPCZA. ANTIAIRCRAFI MACHINE GUN.

FILED DEC. 30. i921. vI5 SHEETS-SHEFT Z.

P A 22/ P232 IJVVENTOR.

P. A. DUPCZA.

ANTIAIRCRAFT MACHINE GUN.

l5.SHEETS.-SHEET 9.

FILED DEC-30,1921- I JN V EN TOR.

. ATTORNEY;

Jan. 23, 1923..

1,443,249. P. A. DUPCZA.

IANTIAIRCRAFI MACHINE GUN. FILED DEC. 30,192l.

I5 SHEETS-SHEET I l- 11 yamm A TT ORNE Y.

Jan. 23, 1923. P. A. DUPCZA.

ANTIAIRCRAFT MACHINE GUN.

I5 SHEETSSHEET 12.

FILED DEC. 30, 192!- A TTORNEY.

Jan. 23, 1923. I

P. A. DUPCZA. ANTIAIRCRAFT MACHINE GUN.

FILED DEC. 3.0. 1921. l5 SHEETSSHEET l3.

QIQMI 1N VEN TOR.

Jan. 23, 1923.

P. A. DUPCZA.

ANTIAIRCRAFT MACHINE GUN. FILED DEC. 30. 1921.

A TTORNE Y.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 14.

Jan. 23, 1923.

. P. A. DUPCZA.

ANTIAIRCRAFT- MACHINE GUN.

FILED DEC. 30.1921- |5 SHEETS-SHEET I5.-

ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 23, 1923.

STAT

PATENT; OFFICE.

PETER A. DUPCZA, OF ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOROF. ONE-HALF TO Y "BOGDONOV, OF ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA. I

ANTIAIRCRAFT MACHINE GUN.

Application filed December 30, 1921. Serial No. 526,040,

toona, in the county of Blair and tate of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful, Improvements in Antlaircraft Machine Guns, of which the following is a.

specification.

This invention appertains to certain im-- provements in machine guns or the like, and more particularly to a type of the same adapted for accurate and effective use against aircraft.

. The principal object of the invention is to provide for an anti-aircraft machine gun embodying a plurality of barrels massed to-' gether in a manner to or as a group of units, for the creation of a zone of fire of a relatively large area, but sufliciently concentrated as to be effective up to. and including the maximum range of'the Another object of the invention is to provide fora gun as characterized, and one which is capable of being manufactured in various sizes for the firing of ammunition ranging upward from the ordinary .30 cal ibre cartridge as .used in the army rifle to and including any and all of the cartridge types of ammunition, such as the 37 and 77 millimeter sizes thereof, the 37 millimeter size of such ammunition being deemed the most satisfactory and effective for general use.

further object of the invention is to provide for a gun of the class mentioned, and one which is of a refined mechanical construction and arrangement as to be extremely durable and efficient in use, and capable of being mounted in any suitable inanner for transportation from one point to another, as when. being used as an offensive weapon in the zone of battle operations and frequent change of position is necessary, or on a permanent or semi-permanent base, as

when being used as a defensive weapon along the lines of communication or in defense of cities, towns, depots, or the, like, or on board war ,vessels.

Another object of the invention is to provide for a gun of the class set forth, and one embodying an efficient form of mount al lowing for the swinging of the gun through 360 in a horizontalplane, and for the elebe operated as a unit,

vation of the samelthroughlan arc of. approxlmately 45, or from an angleof 45 above the horizontal to full 90 ve rti'cally,

the range of elevation Y may, however, be varied to any desired degree greater than 45 by slight variations'in the height of the gun frame supports carried on the mount.

A further object of the invention is to provlde agun of the type specified,and one embodying a novel means for mounting the several barrels thereon, whereby to establish an angle of divergence between certain of the barrels, or certain groups 'of' such barrels, so that the cone of fire o-fxthe same may be varied from a relatively small areaof concentration, as when the barrels are disposed one in normally vertical parallel relation with respect to the other, toione of a greatly increased area, which variation is desired and necessary 'tocompensate for weather conditions, and to render the-fire from the gun more efiective accordingly for various ranges.

Another object of the invention is .to provide for a gun of the-character set forth, and one embodying a means for effecting the firing of the several barrels simultaneously whereby to utilize the full effectiveness of their combined cones of fire, said means being also operable for effecting the firing of the barrels, in groups, one group independently of the other, and in sequence of their grouped arrangement within theframe carried on the gun mount. 1

A still further object of the inventionis to provide for an anti-aircraft machine gun of the kind specified, and one embodying an extremely simple and eflicient loading mechanism, whereby the several barrels of the gun are'to be loaded simultaneously,-after all of the same have been fired,'o-r separately in their'grouped arrangement, or in any number of such groups as maybe desired or necessary, the mechanism being inoperative throughout the firing of the several barrels zines are readily removable from the magazine casin s or tubes associated with each barrel an for loading and reloading purposes, and each magazine is provided with a meanswhereby to retain the cartridges with- -the same during the transportation and placing thereof in position within the said magazine casings or tubes, said means being released upon the insertion. ofthe -magazines into the latter, and automatically acting to secure the magazines in Operative position. v

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides in the certain novel and useful construction, arrangement and operation of parts and mechanisms as will be hereinafter more fully described, set forth in the appended claims, and illustrate ed in the accompanying drawings, in which I Figure 1 is a side elevation of a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a front elevation showing the several control devices for effecting the operation of the gun,

Figure 3'is atop plan view,

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken the line 44 of Figure 1,

v Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view illustrating the gun mount and barrel supporting frame carried thereby with the barrels removed therefrom,

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4, v

Figure 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of the supporting plate or bar of the setting mechanism of the reloading mechanism, and shows the said setting mechanism in its normal position,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary bottom plan view thereof,.with the setting mechanism in the same or normal position, V

Figure 9 is another fragmentary bottom plan view showing a portion of the setting mechanism in its set position, whereby to admit of the operation of the reloading mechanism of an adjacent pair a of gun groups,

Figure 10 isa fragmentary top plan view 'of the center or base supporting member of the gun supporting frame, andshows certain portions of the reloading mechanism carried thereby,

Figure 11 is a transverse sectiontaken on the line 11-11 of Figure 10,

Figure 12 is a fragmentary front elevation of the gun' frame, and showsthe selective control device for the setting mechanism of the reloading mechanism,

Figure 13 is a section taken on the line 13-13 of Figure 6,

Figures 14 to 18, inclusive, are sectional details showing the relative positions of the several pairs of setting cams of the setting and reloading mechanisms, when in their zero positions as indicated at the zero position on the dial as shown in Figure 12,

Figure 19 isan enlarged fragmentary vertical section'taken on the line 19-19 of Figurev 4, and shows a portion of the firing mechanism,

Figure 20 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 20-20 of Figure 4, i

Figure 21 is afragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2121 of Figure 2,

' Figure 22 is a face view of the selective control device of the firing mechanism,

Figure 23 is a vertical section taken on the line 23-23 of Figure 22,

Figure 24 is a section taken on the line 24-24 of Figure 21,

Figure 25 is a fragmentary rear elevation, partly in section, of one of the locking devices of the firing mechanism,

Figure 26 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, of one of the locking devices for the firing mechanism,

Figures 27 and 28 are sections taken on the line 27-27 of Figure 26, and looking in opposite directions,

Figure 29 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the supporting frame, and showing in detail the manner of assembling and securing the barrels in position therein,

Figure 30 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 303O of Figure 29,

Figure 31 is a fragmentary plan view of one of the longitudinal beams or bars used for spacing the gun barrels in position,

Figure 32 is a fragmentary edge view of the beam or bar as shown in Figure 31,

Figure 33 is a fra mentary edge view of one of the transverse fieams or bars arranged at right angles to the longitudinal beams or bars as is shown in F igure31 and interlocked therewith,

Figure 34 is a fragmentary top plan view of-the form of transverse beam as shown in F i ure 33,

i ure 35 is a transverse section taken on the line 35-35 of Figure 31,

Figure 36 is a transverse section taken on the-line 3636 of Figure 34,

Figure 37 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 37-37 of Figure 30,

Figure 38 is an enlarged fragmentary section showing the firing and loading mechanisms of one of the several gun barrels, the firing mechanism being in position for the firing operation,

Figure 39 is a view similar to that of F ignm 38, but showing the firing mechanism at the completion of the firing operation, with the loading mechanism ready for the reloading operation, I

Figure '40 is a similar view showing the firing mechanism in partially reset firing position, with the loading mechanism moved to its initial loading position,

Figure 41 is another similar view showing final movement to completed loading posimeans for eifecting the actuation of the fir-U in and loading mechanisms,

Figure 43 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 43-,43 of Flgure 40,

Figure 44 is a plan view of the inner face of the actuating rack of the bolt of the firing mechanism, and of the locking means therefor, v

the line 45-45 of Figure 38,

Figure 46 is an elevation, partly in section, of one of the actuating gears for effecting the release of the locking means and the operation of the firing mechanism, 7 I

Figure 47 is a fragmentary detail, partly in section, of the actuating gear as shown' in Figure 46,

Figure 48 isa section taken on the line 4848 of Figure 47,

Figure 49 is a fragmentary sectional view of the casings or looks of one of the gun barrels with the firing and loading mechanisms removed therefrom,

Figure 50 is a detail side elevation of one of the firing bolts and its operating rack,

Figure 51 is a side view of the locking bar of one of the gun barrel firing and loading mechanisms.

Figure 52 is a detail view of one of the devices for retaining the lowermost cartridge within a magazine,

Figure 53 is a side view of the shown in Figure 52,

Figure 54 is a side view of the cartridge carrier device for effecting the transfer of a cartridge from the magazine to loading position,

Figure 55 is a front view of the device as shown in Figure 54,

Figure 56 is a sectional view of the gun bolt operating rack, the same being taken on the line 56-56 of'Figure 50,

Figure 57 is an enlarged detail in elevation of one of the posts within the lock casings for supporting the firing plunger springs in position,

Figure 58 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the lower end of one of the magaz-ines and showing the means for retaining the lowermost cartridge therein after the device as same has been filled with the required num- Figure 45 is a, horizontal section taken on removal of the locking collar of the caltridge retaining means from the lower end of the magazine,

F'gure 60 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the upper end of one of the magazine casings or tubes associated with each of the gun barrels, the same being taken on the line 59s59 of Figure 62, andshowing the manner of release of the locking collar of the cartridge retaining means, during the initialmovement of insertion therein of a magazine, 4

Figure 61 is a similar view of the lower end of a magazine casing or tube and the connected end of the firing and loading mechanism casing associated therewith, the same being taken on the line 6060 of Figure 63, and showing the means for effecting the complete release of the cartridge retaining means, and of the interlocking action of thelatter with the said firing and loading mechanism casing for retaining the magazine in position during thefiring operation of the gun.

Figure62 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 61-61 of Figure 60 and showing the position of the stop means or lug after the release of the locking collar and of its engagement with the upper free end of a gun barrel,

Figure 63 is a fragmentary sectional vie-w taken on the line 62-62 of Figure 61, and showing the position of the stop means or lug after the cartridge retaining means have been released fro-m their engagement with the lowermost cartridge and have sprung into interlocked engagement with the firing and loading mechanism casing,

Figure. 64 is a fragmentary elevation of the upper end of one of the gun barrel magazine casings or tubhs, and shows the enlarged closed end of an inserted magazine and the cartridge retaining means locking collar positioned on the free end edge of the caslng or tube beneath the said enlarged closed end of the magazine, with the enlarged closed end of the magazine and the locking collar as being milled or knurled to facilitate the manipulation of the same in the removal, loading, and insertion of the magazine,

4 Figure 65'is a vertical transverse section through a housing for the gun aS a whole. and showing a means for opening and closing the roof portion of the housing previous to and after the firing of the gun, and,

Figure 66 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 6464 of Figure 65.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views thereof, the present embodiment of the gun-mount of the anti-aircraft gun, as

1 shown particularly in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 5 thereof, comprises a lower pair of spaced base elements 100, 101, preferably of I beam form, one spaced from the other to the full width of the gun mount, and each of the same are angularly bent at points inwardly from their opposite end portions 100*, 4100.", and 101 101 as at 100 ,100 and 101, 1 01 to provide for centrally depressed portlons 100 101 respectively andthese elements or beams are connected together at their opposite end portions by means of transversely extending elements or I beams 102 and 103, and at their-aligned depressed portionslOO and 101 by means of similarly disposed elements or I beams 104, 105 and 106, substantially as is shown in Figure 5. The up wardly ofl'set end portions 100", 101*, however, are to be extended to a greater length than that of the end ortions 100 101 and are further connecte to the transverse bar ,or beam 103, by means of one or more transverse bars or beams 107. These lower supporting bars or beams of the gun mount, so constructed, may constitute the chassis of a motor truck, or the same may be suitably bolted or otherwise secured to a, fixed, permanent, or semi-permanent supporting base or bed of steel, concrete or the like (not shown), depending upon the design of the gun and the purposes of its intended use. The opposite and upwardly offset end portions 100, 101* and 100*, 101", of the lower beams 100, 101, are preferably connected together by means of brace members or rods 108, 109, respec-' tively, which are preferably of sectional construction, with the sections thereof adjustably connected together by means of turnbuckles 110, and \re arranged to have their intermediate portions extend beneath the depressed portions, 100 101 to brace or reinforce the same, and to otherwise aid in the support of the gun structure to be mounted thereon. Mounted above the bars or beams 100, 101, but unconnected with re-'- spect th'ereto, are a second pair of bars or beams 111, 112, which are angularly bent inwardly from their outwardly disposed and downwardly offset end portions 111*,111", and 112*, 112*,as at 111*, 111 and 112,

112 to provide upwardly depressed por-' tions 111 112 corresponding to and, except for being disposed in reversed position, otherwise identical with the formation of the said bars or beams 100, 101. The bars or beams 111, 112, are connected together at their opposite end portions 111, 111",

and 112 112, by means of transversel extending cross bars or beams 113. 114 an 115, and at their aligned upwardly depressed portions 111 112 by means of similar cross bars'or beams 116, 117, 118, 119 and 120.

Secured in position on the bars or beams 100, 101 and within the depressed portions 100 101, thereof is an annular rail or memtogether, in addition ber 121 having a raceway formed in its upper face for the reception of a circular series of to engage under an annular shouldered por-- tion 127 formed in the lower portion of the outer peripheral face of the annular rail 121. The bars or beams 111 and 112, together with their several cross bars'and beams as hereinbefore mentioned, are secured in position upon the turn-table gear 124 and constitutes a turn-table platform frame revoluble therewith, and upon which the machine gunand its control and operating mechanisms are mounted, and from which the same are to be manipulated. Secured on and extending cross ways of the upper faces of the downwardly oflt'set end portions 111', 112 of the upper longitudinal bars or beams 111, 112, and on the adjacent upper face portions of the upwardly depressed portions 111", 112 thereof, are flooring sections 128 and 129, respectively, of sheet steel, or other suitable materials, to form platforms from which the gun crew will fire the gun and be able to conveniently manipulate any and all of the several control and operating mechanisms thereof. Rising from the upper faces of the cross bars or beams 117, 118,, connecting the upper longitudinal bars or beams 111, 112, and to one side of the transverse center of the turn-table frame, is a set of standards 130, 131, disposed one in transverse alignment with respect to the other, and which are in the form of substantially triangular shaped castings secured in.p0- 'sition at the opposite ends of their base portions by means of bolts or the like 132, and have their upper ends or apexes formed to provide bearing portions 133, in which are journalledthe opposite ends of a pivot bar or shaft 134.

Mounted for vertical, pivotal or swinging movement'on the pivot bar or shaft 134, is a main-frame, comprising a set of longitudinally disposed frame sections consisting of elongated base portions or members 135, 136, and 137, in the form of heavy castings, of substantially inverted triangular formation, the points of connection thereof with the shaft 134 being at the lowermost or apex ends thereof,while the forward ends of the same are of a greater length than the rearwardly disposed ends substantially as is shown. Rising from the rear and forward ends of, these base portions or members 135, 136 and 137 are posts or standards 135 135'; 136 136"; and 137, 137", respectively, the rear of which posts or standards 135, 136,

forward posts or standards 135", 136*, and

137 b are inclined in a forward direction fromtheir points of connection with the same and terminate at their upper ends in vertical extending portions 135, 136, and 137, respectively. The frame sections, thus constructed,

. means of similarly arranged upper crossbars 140 and 141 connecting the upper ends of the posts or standards 135 135 136*, 136"; and 137*, 137 while the upper ends of the posts or standards are, in turn, connected together by" the longzitudinally' extiending bars 135 136 and 13 These base frame members or castings 135, 136, and 137, to-

gether with their respective posts or standards 135?, 135"; 136 136 and 137, 137", are preferably flanged or webbed, as at 142, and in a manner to be substantially T-shaped in cross-section. 'It is to be here noted that the transverse width of the gun supporting frame is slightly greater than that of the mount or base, so that the outer of the base members or castings 135 and 137 are disposed in planes outwardly of the planes of the standards 130, 131, and are supported in such position on the complemental' ends of the pivot bar or shaft 134 projecting through the latter, while the center or intermediate base member or casting 136 is disposed substantiall in the plane of the longitudinal center 0 the mount and is supported on the pivot bar or shaft 134 medially of the opposite ends thereof. l

The turn table, together with the gun frame just described, is to be revolved in a horizontal plane throughout 360, or a complete circular movement, by any suitable manual or power means for the purpose, and, in the present instance, a manually operated means is shown; and this means comprises a pinion or gear 143 being arranged in meshing relation with the internal gear teeth 144, formed on the inner periphery of the annular turn-table member or ring gear 124. This pinion or gear 143 is operable in a slotted opening formed horizontally through the annular rail or member 121, and is keyed on the lower end portion of a vertically disposed operating shaft 145, which is journalled at its lower end in the latter member 121 and extends upwardly through the platform flooring section 129, where its upper end portion is journalled in a bearing 146 formed at the outer end of a bracket 147 rojecting rearwardly of the vertical face 5? a standard 148 rising vertically from and medially of the forward edge of the flooring section 129, and immediately in rear of the un supporting frame and in alignmentwith t e longitudinal center thereof. The upper free end of the operating shaft 145 is pro-' vided with a hand wheel 149, which is, in turn, provided with a vertically disposed hand grip 150, by means of which the desired rotary movement is imparted to the shaft 145 and consequently to the pinion or gear 143 and, in turn, to the turn-table.

For adjusting the angle of inclination of the gun supporting frame on the pivot rod or shaft 134, and through an arc of movement of 45, more or less according to ,the details of design of the mount and frame, a stub shaft 151 is journalled in a bearing 152 formed at the upper end of the standard-147, which is bolted or otherwise secured as at 153, and medially of the forward edge por-,

tion of the platform floor section 129, as aforesaid. The stub shaft 151 is rotated in either direction from a hand wheel 154 keyed on its outer end, and is connected at its inner end by means of a universal joint 155 to the outer end of a screw shaft 156, which is exare anumber of vertically disposed guns or rifles, forty of the same being shown in the present instance, and arranged in rows of five, one row parallel to the other in the longitudinal direction of the frame .and in rows of eight, one row parallel to the other in the transverse direction ofjthe latter.

These guns or rifles are further divided into groups of twenty each to either side of the center longitudinal frame member 136", and in the form of five transverse rows of four each to each group of twenty, and all of the guns so arranged are to be fired and loaded simultaneously,- or in the dividedgroups of twenty as abovementioned, or in separate rows of four each, or in any number of such latter rows as may be desired, the m'echanisms for the accomplishment of such pur-- poses is to be hereinafter more fully explained. Each of these guns or rifles comprises a vertically extending barrel 159; a

magazine 162 fitted intoeach magazinecasmagazine casing ortube 160 extending parallel to the barrel 159 and secured thereto by means of clamp bands-161; a removable ing or tube; anda lock casing 163 for 'housing the firing and reloading mechanisms thereof; the lower end of the barrel 159 and the magazine casing or tube 160 being de-. tachably secured in the upper end of the 

